10 Year Cancerversary

BlownAway60
BlownAway60 Member Posts: 851
edited July 2019 in Breast Cancer #1

Today is my 10 year Cancerversary. I was diagnosed on July 14, 2009 with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Her2+, ER+/PR+ Breast Cancer. I had a Lumpectomy, 6 rounds of Chemo, 33 Radiation Treatments, a year of Herceptin and 5 years of Femara.. So glad I am still here. So many are still struggling and so many do not survive. I guess I was one of the lucky ones. It is definitely life changing and a disease that, even though you can survive, you never fully recover from it.

My prayers for all of you still struggling.

 

Donna

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Comments

  • Apaugh
    Apaugh Member Posts: 850 Member
    Congratulations!!!

    Yeah Donna!   So glad to hear some great news.  I hope you went out and celebrated this wonderful milestone!    

    Hugs,

    Annie

  • Teach76
    Teach76 Member Posts: 351 Member
    edited July 2019 #3
    Congratulations!

    What a great celebration!  May life continue to be kind to you!

  • anniemshe
    anniemshe Member Posts: 91 Member
    Awesome

    Congratulations!! It’s great to be ALIVE!! Make sure you celebrate this important milestone! May God continue to bless you always! 

  • 2nu2tnbc
    2nu2tnbc Member Posts: 69 Member
    CONGRATULATIONS!!!

    CONGRATULATIONS!!!

  • phoenix900
    phoenix900 Member Posts: 4
    edited August 2019 #6
    Congratulations!

    9 years here. So true about recovery.  I only did the radiation 7 weeks. Was very lucky but life has been tough.

  • candy546
    candy546 Member Posts: 11
    Congratulations!

    Congratulations on your success story.  I am dealing with two primary cancers with one being a breast cancer that is the invasive ductal carcinoma her2 positive.  Just curious about how large your breast cancer was when you were first diagnosed.  The doctor wants me to have a mastectomy even though mine has shrunk because of the chemo I have been on to treat an endometrial cancer which they decided to treat first because its an agressive type.  I had a hysterectomy and they see no sign of that cancer now.  The treatment is to prevent recurrence.   I would like to do a lumpectomy because the cancer is now very small and could not be detected by a pet/ct scan but was seen on a breast mri. So far no sign of lymph node involvement.

  • Winziggle
    Winziggle Member Posts: 2
    Super Congratulations!!!

    Great news! Glad to hear from people making it through. I'm interested to know how large it was also. Seems like a lot of treatment.  Hugs to you!

     

  • dreaming
    dreaming Member Posts: 26 Member
    In July I passed the 20 years

    In July I passed the 20 years from my masectomy, 2 type ductal carcinoma invasive, and a different type found during the masectomy, had one year chemo, I insisted to have the most agressive treatment. 

    No lump,negative mammogram, no hacker history, demanded after going to 5 surgeons for breast pain an excitional biopsy, one cancer found ,removed, was advised by the oncologist not to have further treatment, all was removed.

    Spoke with my surgeon, told her I wanted a masectomy and chemo , luckily she listen.

    I was a young mom,wife, saw my kids finish school, college, get married.

    I owe a lot to my medical team, that continue an excellent follow up and my support group.

  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    Happy happy cancerversary!

    I, too, am one of the lucky ones and I count my blessings often that I am.  I remember you well as it has been 9 years since I finished treatments for breast cancer.  Lately, all around me so many have lost their battles and most are due to breast cancer.  My husband died in April - pneumonia, heart attack, pulmonary failure and lung cancer.  A friend also has advanced lung cancer.  My SON has prostate cancer!  It just seems to be everywhere, doesn't it?  I think as I age, more and more folks are getting bad news of one kind or another.  Cancer came into my personal life 9 years ago, but even though I am well, I do still suffer from far too many losses due to it.  Congratulations, Doona.  Best wishes to all of you.

    Suzanne

     

     

  • Chickadee1955
    Chickadee1955 Member Posts: 355 Member

    Happy happy cancerversary!

    I, too, am one of the lucky ones and I count my blessings often that I am.  I remember you well as it has been 9 years since I finished treatments for breast cancer.  Lately, all around me so many have lost their battles and most are due to breast cancer.  My husband died in April - pneumonia, heart attack, pulmonary failure and lung cancer.  A friend also has advanced lung cancer.  My SON has prostate cancer!  It just seems to be everywhere, doesn't it?  I think as I age, more and more folks are getting bad news of one kind or another.  Cancer came into my personal life 9 years ago, but even though I am well, I do still suffer from far too many losses due to it.  Congratulations, Doona.  Best wishes to all of you.

    Suzanne

     

     

    Hi Suzanne.  I am so very

    Hi Suzanne.  I am so very sorry to hear about the loss of your husband.  You're a remarkable woman, and have done so much for the Sisters on this Board.  Praying your son conquers cancer the way you have.  Best wishes to you, Suzanne.  Deborah

     

  • Chickadee1955
    Chickadee1955 Member Posts: 355 Member
    congratulations Donna!  You

    congratulations Donna!  You joined the Board just a few months before I did, after being diagnosed in February 2010.  I'm very happy for you!

  • BlownAway60
    BlownAway60 Member Posts: 851

    Thank you all  for the comments and congratulations. In reply to the question on the size of my tumor, it was 1.5 cm. I was also graded as 2a because of a microscopic amount of cancer cells found in my Sentinal Lymph Node. I only had the one node removed. They felt that the radiation would take care of that area and I guess it did.

    Prayers for all

    Donna

  • 2nu2tnbc
    2nu2tnbc Member Posts: 69 Member
    Congratulations!

    I love these stories!!!! They give sooooooo,I have HOPE!!!! I’m almost 2 1/2 years out! I have a question also......Did you long term survivors change your eating habits?

  • Apaugh
    Apaugh Member Posts: 850 Member
    Wow

    Congratulations for the all you wonderful people who are winning, fighting, and inspiring others along the way.

    Hugs to you all

    Annie

  • joannstar
    joannstar Member Posts: 403 Member

    Happy happy cancerversary!

    I, too, am one of the lucky ones and I count my blessings often that I am.  I remember you well as it has been 9 years since I finished treatments for breast cancer.  Lately, all around me so many have lost their battles and most are due to breast cancer.  My husband died in April - pneumonia, heart attack, pulmonary failure and lung cancer.  A friend also has advanced lung cancer.  My SON has prostate cancer!  It just seems to be everywhere, doesn't it?  I think as I age, more and more folks are getting bad news of one kind or another.  Cancer came into my personal life 9 years ago, but even though I am well, I do still suffer from far too many losses due to it.  Congratulations, Doona.  Best wishes to all of you.

    Suzanne

     

     

    You were/are my inspiration

    I celebrated 9 years on 8/19/19 and I remember reading all of your posts, Suzanne, and Donna's which were so helpful as we were all figuring out how to be survivors. So sorry about the loss of your husband. Yes, the longer we live the more things that we encounter...cancer being one of them. I am mourning too many loses, but that is the cost of surviving. I guess this teaches us to celebrate everyday!

  • Annette 11
    Annette 11 Member Posts: 380
    10th year anniversary for me

    Hi to all pink sisters

    For those going through breast cancer at this time- we feel your fear, confusion,frustration etc. as we have been there too.  When I was 63years old I had a double mastectomy for triple neg.BC and months of chemo. I am 73 now.

     Know you can do this and do it as long as you need too. Life will get better. The only thing I have a problem with now 10 years later is my hair is thinning. I never wore a wig while going thru chemo but now I do. I love wearing a short wig...don't have to fuss with my  (thinning) hair just put the cute wig on everyday and I'm ready to go. 

    2nu2tnbc asked about eating habits- I always tried to eat healthy and still do. Every week I make Lentil soup, vegtable soup, I eat beef, chicken and some fish. I eat ice cream and some goodies.

    So i basically watch but I'm not obsessive.

    Congratulations to all who are doing well. When i was going thru cancer i was always on this site so I do remember most of you wonderful ladies that would give me comfort during those scary times. 

    Hugs to all.

     

     

  • 2nu2tnbc
    2nu2tnbc Member Posts: 69 Member

    10th year anniversary for me

    Hi to all pink sisters

    For those going through breast cancer at this time- we feel your fear, confusion,frustration etc. as we have been there too.  When I was 63years old I had a double mastectomy for triple neg.BC and months of chemo. I am 73 now.

     Know you can do this and do it as long as you need too. Life will get better. The only thing I have a problem with now 10 years later is my hair is thinning. I never wore a wig while going thru chemo but now I do. I love wearing a short wig...don't have to fuss with my  (thinning) hair just put the cute wig on everyday and I'm ready to go. 

    2nu2tnbc asked about eating habits- I always tried to eat healthy and still do. Every week I make Lentil soup, vegtable soup, I eat beef, chicken and some fish. I eat ice cream and some goodies.

    So i basically watch but I'm not obsessive.

    Congratulations to all who are doing well. When i was going thru cancer i was always on this site so I do remember most of you wonderful ladies that would give me comfort during those scary times. 

    Hugs to all.

     

     

    Congratulations

    Congratulations and Thank You!!

  • Meme14470
    Meme14470 Member Posts: 30 Member
    My journey started out with

    My journey started out with lumpectomy, healed one month and had mediport put in for Chemo treatments.  I had 4 doses of A/C 2 weeks apart, they were very tough to get through! My hair started coming out with my second A/C treatment and I had a rare side effect that reddened and inflamed my entire mouth, mostly all I could do was drink copius amounts of water and eat only soft bland foods.  At some point my salvary glads stopped working completely! It is not pleasant to have zero spit in your mouth! I also had weaker weakly doses of Taxol for 12 weeks but still ended up with neuropathy on both feet.  Went on for 2nd surgery to widen the margins and started radiation a month later for 8 weeks.  My saliva stayed absent for about another 9 months before it blissfully stared to flow again.  It took at lease 12-18 months to physically recover from all that I went though and I am still not up to par.  This all happened 4 years ago and have had NED since!  Keep crossing my fingers at all my appointments and mamograms!  Trying to keep the beast at bay!

  • Elaine_wi
    Elaine_wi Member Posts: 124 Member
    Inspiration

    What a wondeful thing to share with us. Thanks for the inspiration!

  • mollyz
    mollyz Member Posts: 756 Member
    edited April 2020 #21
    10 years

    Happy Cancervarsary to you